Chad Green Flies The Coop To Canada!

This was not the news I wanted to hear. The Yankees pitching staff already needs a facelift and it’s not even spring yet. On Tuesday we learned that free agent Chad Green will head up north, signing a two-year $8.5 million dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Green was one of the Yankees more reliable relievers. The fact that he is going to be pitching for a division rival is not the fresh start I was hoping for this Yankee team as we grow closer to Spring Training. 

“Green’s Tommy John surgery, which he underwent with the Yankees, will keep him out through the early months of the season, but the second half is full of possibility. Working with a typical recovery timeline, which can stretch from 12 to 14 months or longer, Green could return to pitch down the stretch in ’23, just as the Blue Jays would be hoping to make a postseason push. If it all breaks that way, Green would represent a major addition,” reported MLB.com.

As a Yankee, Green bailed the Yankees out of their share of messes since he first joined the team in 2016. The 31-year-old made 272 appearances and 24 starts with a career record of 33-22, a 3.17 ERA. He also had 11 saves, often coming in with runners in scoring position, and setting up the team’s closer.

“Green bounced between the bullpen and rotation in his earlier days with the Yankees, but he has thrived as a reliever. Over his past three seasons, Green owns a 3.18 ERA with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings, a key number for a club that’s actively targeted more swing-and-miss pitchers,” reported MLB.com.

Green also can eat up innings, which is enticing to any ball club. Toronto is betting on Green to support them in their postseason run. When healthy, Green is lethal, which is why the Yankees have held onto him so long. 

The Yankees didn’t protect Green and now he is gone. Will he be the Green we saw before his injury in 2022? He could very well be which will be difficult for the Yankees playing head to head division games with the Jays. Who will the Yankees have in that role in 2023? It is anyone’s guess, but as I said, this is not the news I wanted hear. I hope it does not come back and bite the Bombers in the butt.